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Emergency service pharmacies in MV: Long distances for sick people from 2026!
From January 2026, patients in MV will have to expect longer journeys to emergency pharmacies as distances will be increased.
Emergency service pharmacies in MV: Long distances for sick people from 2026!
From January 1, 2026, there will be some changes affecting the pharmacy sector in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. These new regulations come at a time when the pharmacy decline in the region has already reached worrying levels. There are currently only 361 public pharmacies, a decrease of almost 50 pharmacies since 2014. In this context, Health Minister Stefanie Drese is presenting the new regulation that will in future separate emergency service pharmacies by 35 kilometers instead of the previous 25 kilometers. This could mean longer journeys for many citizens who need medication outside regular opening hours, making access to medical care more difficult. Nordkurier reports that…
The measures were developed in coordination with the Ministry of Health and, according to Minister Drese, are intended to improve security of supply in the healthcare landscape of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. One component of the new regulation is the abolition of printed emergency service plans. In the future, information can be accessed online and made available at pharmacy locations, making it easier to access important information. This is particularly relevant for people with urgent medication needs.
The role of pharmacies in healthcare
But what else do pharmacies actually do? In addition to dispensing medications, they offer numerous advice on medications and health issues. Pharmacists help determine whether and when a doctor's visit is necessary, provide information about the correct forms of intake and possible side effects. It is an open secret that some medications need to be taken on an empty stomach while others should be combined with food. Another focus is checking for drug interactions, which is important for many patients taking multiple medications at the same time. Information on this can also be found on healthy.bund.de.
A particularly useful offering is the medication analysis, which provides an overview of all medications taken. These are even free for people who regularly consume at least five prescription medications. An individually designed medication plan helps patients keep track of their intake. For added safety and health, many pharmacies offer the option of having blood pressure and blood sugar measurements taken or taking vaccination education courses.
The challenges for pharmacists
As the number of pharmacies declines, the burden on the remaining pharmacists becomes ever greater. The new emergency service directive means that the remaining pharmacies in the region are under even greater demand. A negative example can be seen when comparing the numbers; In 2014 there were still 410 pharmacies serving the population. More thought should be given to how the social infrastructure, especially in the health sector, can be maintained and improved. The MV Chamber of Pharmacies and Minister Drese see the new directive as a necessary step to, on the one hand, protect pharmacies from overload and, on the other hand, to secure supplies for the population.
The changes in the pharmacy sector also raise questions about how pharmacy users, including many older people, will implement the new circumstances in practice. Information about emergency pharmacies can be found on the MV Chamber of Pharmacy website, which should help citizens to be better informed in the future. If you would like to find out more about emergency pharmacies, you can also click here: Academy of Health Professions.
Overall, the citizens of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are facing important changes that are worth keeping a close eye on in the coming months.